Swaraj says PM has acted like a ‘statesman’

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj today said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has acted like a statesman in deciding to visit Pakistan and this is how relations with neighbours should be.

“That’s like a statesman. Padosi se aise hi rishte hone chahiyen (This is how it should be with neighbours),” Swaraj said on twitter to the news of Modi’s visit to Lahore to meet his Pakistan counterpart Nawaz Sharif.

Modi today made a surprise announcement of a stop-over in Lahore as he wrapped up his brief Afghanistan visit.

“Looking forward to meeting PM Nawaz Sharif in Lahore today afternoon, where I will drop by on my way back to Delhi,” the PM tweeted.

Earlier, Modi had wished Sharif on his birthday.

“Spoke to PM Nawaz Sharif and wished him on his birthday,” Modi had tweeted.

Modi’s sudden visit comes within days of both countries deciding to re-engage in “Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue”. The Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet next month to discuss modalities about the dialogue.